2017-10-24 Transportation and Infrastructure Minutes

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Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Minutes October24, 2017 2) Increasing the discount to 60% would cost an additional $12,745 subsidy from the City's utility ratepayers. 3) Allowing temporary assistance for a specific time period is already available. Human Services currently has $3,000 budgeted for one-time emergency assistance, which is currently appropriate for the need. No one has been denied assistance. 4) Increasing funds to Human Services could assist all of Tukwila rather than requiring a subsidy by other ratepayers. Staff is not recommending a policy change at this time, and the Committee did not give direction to pursue one of these options. Customer assistance is evaluated each time utility rates are increased, and these options can be considered in the future. DISCUSSION ONLY. D. Grant Application: Storm Water Quality Retrofit Program Staff is seeking Committee approval of a $95,000 grant application to the Washington State Department of Ecology's Water Quality Combined Financial Assistance 2019 program. If awarded, funds would be used for one year of water quality testing at Riverton, Southgate, and Gilliam creeks. Identifying and correcting water quality deficiencies will leverage the City's ability to acquire salmon restoration grant funds for future projects in the creeks. lithe City is awarded the grant and qualifies for hardship, it will need to match 15%, or $14,250. Funds are available from the Storm Water Quality Retrofit Program. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. E. Ordinance: Condemnation of Real Property on 53rd Avenue South Staff is seeking Council approval of an ordinance that would authorize the acquisition of property from seven parcels for right-of-way requirements of the 53rd Avenue South (South 137th Street - South 144th Street) Project. Right-of-way is needed at various locations to allow the placement of utilities, retaining walls, sidewalks and storm water treatment. Staff will continue to negotiate with the property owners in an effort to avoid condemnation. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 13, 2017 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. F. Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program Implementation Staff updated the Committee on progress developing an implementation plan for traffic calming features including speed cushions and radar signs. While a citywide program is currently unfunded, a pilot project was implemented on South 160th Street to determine the effectiveness of speed cushions in conjunction with radar speed display signs. The City Council has requested that criteria be developed as residents have asked why that street was selected above others. Commonly used engineering standards for traffic calming features include speeds, traffic volume, and accidents, and other factors can include proximity to schools, lack of sidewalks, accessibility, bicycle facilities, roadway characteristics, and other considerations. The City plans to purchase two additional sets of radar signs this year which will be used for data collection. Staff estimates an annual speed cushion program will cost approximately $125,000 peryearto include two streets with five cushions each. Committee members expressed support for the creation of a list of streets ranked by the criteria and shared with the public. Chair Krullersuggested that population density be factored into the ranking, and to check to see if other cities have criteria. The Committee and staff agreed that with the additional radar speed signs, enough data can be collected to present a preliminary ranking in January. DISCUSSION ONLY.